Meramec Heights Elementary School staff and parents are seeking help to support six employees and three others who recently were hurt in a one-vehicle accident in south St. Louis County. In addition to the six employees, a former employee and the husbands of two current employees were injured in the accident, according to a letter sent to Meramec Heights families.
The accident occurred at 12:16 p.m. May 30 when Ryan J. Calhoun, 42, of Fenton was driving a 2016 Nissan passenger van at I-55 and Butler Hill Road and suffered a medical emergency before the van ran off the right side of the interstate and struck a tree, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
The passengers included Katherine R. Calhoun, 42, of Fenton; Ericka R. Helfin, 28, of Arnold; Amy E. Brown, 44, of High Ridge; Amethyst D. Kleissle, 29, of Arnold; Rachel M. Daniels, 41, of Fenton; Jeffrey Kyle Daniels, 43, of Fenton; Kristi G. Reyes, 45, of Imperial; and Jennifer D. Kuta, 27, of Imperial.
Katherine Calhoun is a nurse and married to Ryan Calhoun; Helfin is a special education teacher; Brown is a third grade teacher; Kleissle is a kitchen manager; Rachel Daniels is a third grade teacher and married to Jeffrey Kyle Daniels; Reyes is a fifth grade teacher; and Kuta is a former Meramec Heights teacher, according to Meramec Heights Principal Dustin Bain’s Facebook message.
The driver and all the passengers, except for Brown, were wearing seat belts, the patrol reported.
Ryan Calhoun and Rachel and Jeffrey Daniels were seriously injured. Katherine Calhoun, Helfin, Kleissle, Brown, Reyes and Kuta were moderately injured, the report said.
All nine people in the van were transported to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County.
Kuta, Helfin, Brown and Reyes were treated and released, and Ryan Calhoun and Rachel and Jeffrey Daniels were discharged from the hospital on May 31, a Mercy spokeswoman said.
Kleissle was transferred to Mercy St. Louis in Creve Coeur and was discharged on May 31, and Katherine Calhoun was transferred to Mercy St. Louis and discharged on June 1, she said.
Parents from the school are providing meals to families of those involved, and the parents are collecting donations to help cover some expenses those involved in the crash have incurred, the letter said.
Those interested in donating money for the parents to purchase meals, gift cards for food, toiletries and other items for the family may send money to Jenna Ray through her Venmo account, @jenna-ray-8.
“Together, we can make a meaningful impact and show our support to those in need. Thank you for your consideration and willingness to support these families. Your kindness and generosity will be deeply appreciated,” said the letter, signed by Bain, Ray, Shannon Medeiros and Rachael Schlipmann.
Meramec Heights, at 1340 W. Outer Road between Arnold and Fenton, is part of the Fox C-6 School District.